Lucky sevens

Sunday

Jul 8, 2007 at 12:01 AM

By Jamon Smith Staff Writer

Though Andrew Carter Rhodes was born weighing 7 pounds, 8 ounces at 7:17 a.m. on the seventh day of the week, July 7, 2007, his parents don’t feel he’s a lucky baby.“We’re the lucky ones. Lucky to have him," said Andrew’s father, Drew Rhodes, as he stared at his wife, Lori, cuddling their newborn baby in their hospital room -- room No. 117 -- at Northport Medical Center at 7:07 p.m. Saturday.Andrew was one of four babies born in Tuscaloosa County on Saturday, 07-07-2007.DCH spokesman Brad Fisher said at 8:37 p.m. Saturday that two 7-7-7 babies were born at DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa, and the other two were born at Northport Medical.Fisher said the first of the babies born on this once-in-a-millennium date, clocked in at 3:52 a.m. at DCH.The next 7-7-7 baby was born at 7:05 a.m. at DCH and the third, Andrew, at 7:17 a.m.Fisher said he didn’t know what time the fourth, and possibly last, 7-7-7 baby was born.Lori, a 30-year-old Northport resident, said Andrew’s due date was July 18, but her husband insisted that their son be born Saturday instead.“Our doctor was on call, so I went ahead and had a repeat C-section," Lori said.Drew said he wanted Andrew to be born Saturday because of the significance of the date.“We feel that 7-7-7 is a number blessed by God," said Drew, 28.“We’re also going to take him to Vegas when he’s 7," he said, laughing.Lori’s mother, Janice Sullivan, said she didn’t care about the date.“The day doesn’t mean that much to me," Sullivan said. “Having a healthy grandbaby is what’s important."Sullivan mentioned later that evening that she was born Feb. 13, on a Friday, though she declined to tell what year.Reach Jamon Smith at jamon.smith@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0204.